Chicken-pox worries for 1st-place Royals
Royals All-Star pitcher Kelvin Herrera and right fielder Alex Rios have been diagnosed with chicken pox, raising concerns that others on the AL Central-leading team may have been exposed.
Team officials said Tuesday that Herrera and Rios will probably miss a couple of weeks as the season wraps up. Both players were sent home from St. Petersburg, Fla., after experiencing symptoms over the weekend.
The Royals have reached out to players, coaches and their families to determine whether anyone else has had chicken pox or may be at risk.
The disease is highly contagious, spread through the air via coughing or sneezing and sometimes by touching. It causes a blister-like rash, fever and tiredness. It can be serious for people with weakened immune systems.
The Royals activated All-Star outfielder Alex Gordon from the disabled list and welcomed new outfielder Jonny Gomes.
Gordon has been out since July 8, when he crumpled to the warning track while chasing down a flyball in a game against Tampa Bay. He had spent eight games rehabbing with Triple-A Omaha. Gomes was acquired late Monday in a trade with Atlanta. No to “Shoeless” Joe: Commissioner Rob Manfred has rejected the push from supporters of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson to reconsider the former White Sox great for the Hall of Fame.
According to a story on FoxNews.com, Manfred said his team researched the matter and found no reason to reverse rulings by his predecessors that Jackson’s gambling should bar him from Cooperstown.
Jackson was part of the 1919 White Sox who allegedly conspired to throw the World Series to the Reds, an incident portrayed in the 1988 movie “Eight Men Out.”
Jackson and seven teammates were banned in 1920 after having been accused of taking $5,000 each to lose the series. Briefly: The Dodgers acquired outfielder Chris Heisey from the Blue Jays in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations in a minorleague deal. ... The Braves called up Cuban defector Hector Olivera and put him in the lineup against the Marlins. Olivera was acquired from the Dodgers just before the July 31 deadline for non-waiver trades in a blockbuster deal that also included the Marlins. ... The Nationals activated second baseman Dan Uggla from the DL. ... The Rockies reinstated righthanded pitcher Kyle Kendrick and left-handed pitcher Boone Logan from the DL. Kendrick started the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Diamondbacks. ... The Diamondbacks recalled right-handed pitchers Enrique Burgos and Matt Stites and infielder Brandon Drury from Triple-A Reno. ... Cubs relievers James Russell and Rafael Soriano were designated for assignment.